Family of 5 found dead in locked car on Pudukkottai-Karaikudi bypass

TIRUCHY: A family of five persons from Salem was found dead in a locked car along the Pudukkottai-Karaikudi bypass on Wednesday. They reportedly consumed poison due to business loss.

The security of Nagara Sivamadam at Elankudipatti near Namanasamudram found a car (TN 77 M 1705) suspiciously parked near the madam and alerted Namanasamudram police.

Police personnel, on reaching the spot, saw five people lying dead in the locked car. They broke open the windows to retrieve the bodies and sent them to Pudukkottai Medical College hospital.

The police identified the bodies as Manikandan (55), an industrialist from State Bank Colony in Salem, his wife Nithya (50), son Dheeran (21), daughter Niharika (20) and mother Saroja (50).

The initial investigation found that Manikandan and the family had been residing in a rented house for the past three months.

Manikandan was involved in aluminium fabrication units in Krishnagiri, Namakkal and Pudukkottai. He faced a heavy loss recently, prompting him to borrow money from others, but he could not repay them immediately. This caused him great anguish and frustration. The family travelled to Pudukkottai, reportedly consumed poison and died in the locked car.

The police also recovered a letter in which Manikandan had mentioned that he had taken the extreme step due to frustration after the loss in the business. He also had appealed not to hand over the bodies to anyone, including their relatives. The final rites were to be done by the police, he had requested.

Police have registered a case and are investigating.

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